Wesleyan has advanced to the NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse tournament semifinals three times in the last 12 seasons. If there’s any year the Cardinals break through to the championship game, it’s 2018.

Wesleyan, which lost to RIT in last year’s final four, has earned the No. 1 ranking in the Nike/US Lacrosse Division III Men’s Preseasons Top 20. The Cardinals return nearly intact — with the notable exception of first-team All-American goalie Teddy Bergman  — from a team that reeled off 20 straight wins en route to the NESCAC championship. Harry Stanton (89 goals, 29 assists) is a potential Player of the Year candidate, with Carter Hawthorne (40g, 55a), Christian Barker (26g, 28a) and Taylor Ghesquiere (47g) also returning.

CAC rivals York and Salisbury come in at No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Much liked Weselyan, the Spartans bring back the core of their team, anchored by Brendan McGrath (58g, 24a) on attack. On paper, the defending NCAA champion Sea Gulls could drop further given their graduation losses, but we know better than to underestimate coach Jim Berkman and company. Plus, first-team All-Americans Kyle Tucker and Will Nowesnick could make Salisbury virtually impenetrable on the defensive end.

Cortland and RIT round out the top five.

A more detailed preview of the rankings (listed below) will be appear as part of US Lacrosse Magazine’s NCAA preview edition that mails to US Lacrosse members Feb. 1.

NCAA Division III Men’s
Preseason Top 20

1. Wesleyan
2. York
3. Salisbury
4. Cortland
5. RIT
6. Denison
7. Cabrini
8. Tufts
9. Lynchburg
10. Dickinson
11. Ithaca
12. Gettysburg
13. Amherst
14. Bates
15. Franklin & Marshall
16. Stevenson
17. St. Lawrence
18. Roanoke
19. Stevens
20. Middlebury

Also considered: Hampden-Sydney, Washington and Lee